Part 55 (1/2)

”No.”

”The French?”

”No.”

”Who then is to free us?”

”G.o.d and His ocean and His hills and forests and rivers and these children of His in America, who have been schooled to know their rights. After this King is broken there will be no other like him in England.”

They dismounted at Arnold's door.

”For a time I shall have much to do, but soon I hope for great promotion and more leisure,” he said.

”Tell me the good news,” she urged.

”I expect to be the happiest man in the army, and the master of this house and your husband.”

”And you and I shall be as one,” she answered. ”G.o.d speed the day when that may be true also of your people and my people.”

2

He kissed her and bade her good night and returned to his many tasks.

He had visited the forts and batteries. He had communicated with every outpost. His plan was complete. About midnight, when he and Solomon were lying down to rest, two hors.e.m.e.n came up the road at a gallop and stopped at his door. They were aides of Was.h.i.+ngton. They reported that the General was spending the night at the house of Henry Jasper, near the ferry, and would reach camp about noon next day.

”Thank G.o.d for that news,” said the young man. ”Solomon, I think that we can sleep better to-night.”

”If you're awake two minutes from now you'll hear some snorin',”

Solomon answered as he drew his boots. ”I ain't had a good bar'foot sleep in a week. I don't like to have socks er luther on when I wade out into that pond. To-night, I guess, we'll smell the water lilies.”

Jack was awake for an hour thinking of the great happiness which had fallen in the midst of his troubles and of Thornhill and his message.

He heard the two aides going to their quarters. Then a deep silence fell upon the camp, broken only by the rumble of distant thunder in the mountains and the feet of some one pacing up and down between his hut and the house of the General. He put on his long coat and slippers and went out-of-doors.

”Who's there?” he demanded.

”Arnold,” was the answer. ”Taking a little walk before I turn in.”

There was a weary, pathetic note of trouble in that voice, long remembered by the young man, who immediately returned to his bed. He knew not that those restless feet of Arnold were walking in the flames of h.e.l.l. Had some premonition of what had been going on down the river come up to him? Could he hear the feet of that horse, now galloping northward through the valleys and over the hills toward him with evil tidings? No more for this man was the comfort of restful sleep or the joys of home and friends.h.i.+p and affection. Now the touch of his wife's hand, the sympathetic look in her eyes and all her babble about the coming marriage were torture to him. He could not endure it. Worst of all, he was in a way where there is no turning. He must go on. He had begun to know that he was suspected. The conduct of the scout, Solomon Binkus, had suggested that he knew what was pa.s.sing. Arnold had seen the aides of Was.h.i.+ngton as they came in. The chief could not be far behind them. He dreaded to stand before him. Compared to the torture now beginning for this man, the fate of Bill Scott on Rock Creek in the wilderness, had been a mercy.

Soon after sunrise came a solitary horseman, wearied by long travel, with a message from Colonel Jameson to Arnold. A man had been captured near Tarrytown with important doc.u.ments on his person. He had confessed that he was Adjutant-General Andre of Sir Henry Clinton's army. The worst had come to pa.s.s. Now treason! disgrace! the gibbet!

Arnold was sitting at breakfast. He arose, put the message in his pocket and went out of the room. _The Vulture_ lay down the river awaiting orders. The traitor walked hurriedly to the boat-landing.

Solomon was there. It had been his custom when in camp to go down to the landing every morning with his spy-gla.s.s and survey the river.

Only one boatman was at the dock.

”Colonel Binkus, will you help this man to take me down to the British s.h.i.+p?” Arnold asked. ”I have an engagement with its commander and am half an hour late.”

Solomon had had much curiosity about that s.h.i.+p. He wished to see the man who had gone into the bush and then to Smith's with Arnold.

”Sart'n,” Solomon answered.